Pop songwriter Meredith Willson is born in Mason City, Iowa. Known for "The Music Man" and "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," he earns a country hit by writing Eddy Arnold's 1951 single "May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You"

May 26, 1907

Marion Morrison is born in Winterset, Iowa. Renamed John Wayne for the silver screen, he becomes one of the best-known actors of the 20th century. The Duke is namechecked in Big & Rich's 2004 hit "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"

Jul 18, 1909

Harriet Snyder is born in Des Moines, Iowa. Following her marriage to Ozzie Nelson, she co-stars in the TV series "The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet," which provides a launching pad for the musical career of their son, Ricky Nelson

Mar 7, 1913

Banjo player and guitarist Marvin Montgomery is born in Rinard, Iowa. He becomes a steady musician among the early western swing bands, working with Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers and The Light Crust Doughboys

May 15, 1913

Carolyn Brown is born in Marshalltown, Iowa. She is destined to become the first wife of Bill Monroe

Oct 23, 1925

TV personality Johnny Carson is born in Corning, Iowa. Best known as the host of "The Tonight Show," he gets namechecked in Jo Dee Messina's 1996 country hit "You're Not In Kansas Anymore"

Nov 15, 1928

William Fries is born in Audobon, Iowa. Under the name C.W. McCall, he gains a million-selling novelty hit in 1975 with "Convoy," using the lingo of the trendy CB radio to relate a cross-country trucker caravan

Dec 3, 1928

Easy-going pop vocalist Andy Williams is born in Wall Lake, Iowa. His 1959 hit "Lonely Street" is remade for the country market in 1977 by Rex Allen Jr.

Nov 30, 1935

Singer/songwriter Jack Reno is born in Bloomfield, Iowa. He earns a Top 10 single in 1968 with "Repeat After Me," and a minor hit in 1971 by covering Vanity Fare's pop single "Hitchin' A Ride"

RolandNote.com is a detailed country music database compiled by veteran music journalist Tom Roland that chronicles more than 60,000 events and 10,000 recordings.

Discover what happened in country music on a particular date or in a particular month, get the history of your favorite country songs or your favorite country artists. From Gene Autry to George Strait, from the Carter Family to Carrie Underwood, from Jimmie Rodgers to Jason Aldean, from Hank Williams to Hunter Hayes.